Granted Claim Architecture
The issued claim structure, dependency framework, common technical architecture, claim-analysis methodology and legal-scope context that govern every later mapping step. No third-party mapping is undertaken in this section.
Granted U.S. Patent —US 12,528,021 B2
Claim set overview
18 Granted Claims
Claim 1
Independent method claim
Computer-implemented method for facilitating virtual participation in a real-world racing event.
Dependent claimsClaims 2–6
Claim 7
Independent system claim
System comprising user-associated computer hardware and one or more processors configured to facilitate virtual participation in a real-world racing event.
Dependent claimsClaims 8–12
Claim 13
Independent computer-readable-medium claim
Non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that cause one or more processors to perform the claimed virtual-participation functionality.
Dependent claimsClaims 14–18
Claim 1 — Independent
Claim 2 · Claim 3 · Claim 4 · Claim 5 · Claim 6
Dependent claims
Claim 7 — Independent
Claim 8 · Claim 9 · Claim 10 · Claim 11 · Claim 12
Dependent claims
Claim 13 — Independent
Claim 14 · Claim 15 · Claim 16 · Claim 17 · Claim 18
Dependent claims
The three independent claims address substantially corresponding technical functionality through different statutory claim forms. Each independent claim must nevertheless be analysed separately according to its own issued language.
Claim languageThe limitation labels and technical restatements shown here are analytical aids for structuring the later mapping. They are not reproductions of the issued wording. Exact issued claim language must be read from, and reproduced faithfully from, the granted patent. Issued claims — US 12,528,021 B2
Claim dependency
Exact Claim Dependency Tree
Method claim family
Claim 1 — Independent
Claim 2
User performance data
Claim 3
2D or 3D representation
Claim 4
Modifiable environmental and/or physical conditions
Claim 5
Modifiable virtual equipment
Claim 6
Specified virtual racing landscape
System claim family
Claim 7 — Independent
Claim 8
User performance data
Claim 9
2D or 3D representation
Claim 10
Modifiable environmental and/or physical conditions
Claim 11
Modifiable virtual equipment
Claim 12
Specified racing surface
Computer-readable-medium claim family
Claim 13 — Independent
Claim 14
User performance data
Claim 15
2D or 3D representation
Claim 16
Modifiable environmental and/or physical conditions
Claim 17
Modifiable virtual equipment
Claim 18
Specified racing surface
A dependent claim incorporates all limitations of the claim from which it depends and adds one or more further requirements. Accordingly, correspondence with a dependent claim requires correspondence with the parent claim and the additional dependent limitation.
Shared architecture
Common Technical Core
REAL-WORLD RACING EVENT
DATA FEED
PROCESSOR / COMPUTATIONAL EXECUTION
MULTI-DIMENSIONAL VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT
SUBSTANTIAL REPLICATION OF PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
VIRTUALIZED REPRESENTATIONS OF EVENT PARTICIPANTS
REPRESENTATIONS MOVE ACCORDING TO CORRESPONDING PHYSICAL PARTICIPANT MOVEMENT
USER AVATAR
USER HARDWARE / DISPLAY
VIEWPOINT ASSOCIATED WITH USER AVATAR
USER-CONTROLLED NAVIGATION
PARTICIPATION AND COMPETITION AGAINST EVENT PARTICIPANTS
Statutory wrappers
Method
Claim 1
Wraps the same central architecture in a distinct statutory form.
System
Claim 7
Wraps the same central architecture in a distinct statutory form.
Software / medium
Claim 13
Wraps the same central architecture in a distinct statutory form.
This common technical core assists understanding of the patent position, but the wording and legal requirements of each issued claim remain independently controlling.
Technical core
Visual Claim Matrix
| Technical element | Claim 1 | Claim 7 | Claim 13 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real-world racing event | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Event data feed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Live / recorded / historical | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Processor processing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-dimensional environment | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Physical environment replication | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Virtualized participant representations | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Movement correspondence | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| User avatar | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| User hardware | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Display | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Avatar viewpoint | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visualization as time passes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| User instructions | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Race-path navigation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Participation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Competition | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Checkmarks indicate only that the technical element appears within that claim family. They do not indicate correspondence with any third-party technology and carry no evidentiary weight.
Claim form
Why Three Independent Claim Forms Matter
Method claim — Claim 1
Focuses on performance of the claimed sequence of computer-implemented acts.
System claim — Claim 7
Focuses on the claimed arrangement of computer hardware and processors configured to perform the required functionality.
Computer-readable-medium claim — Claim 13
Focuses on stored computer instructions that cause processors to perform the required functionality.
Because each form is directed to a different subject matter, each requires its own mapping against its own issued language. No infringement opinion, and no conclusion concerning direct or indirect infringement, is expressed here.
Verification
Granted Claims — Source Linking
Every claim reference in this section can be verified independently against the public record.
The issued claims control the mapping.
The following sections will move from the granted patent architecture to the identified iRacing technology ecosystem and will assess publicly disclosed functionality against these issued requirements on a limitation-by-limitation basis.
Patent first
Claim
Limitation
Evidence
Assessment
Qualification